Shoe



Feb. 1, 1944.y `w F AlRNsl I 2,340,578

SHOE Filed Aug, is, 1941 ATTO RNEY BY i Patented Feb. 1, 1944 satis UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE William F. Cairns, North Haven, Conn., assignor to United States Rubber Company, New York, N. Y..l a corporation of New Jersey Application August 15, 1941, Serial No. .406,964

(Cl. .'-i6 45)v s claims.

This invention relates toshoes ofthe laced type, and more particularly to canvas or other types of' lace shoes designed for athletic use.

Many players of tennis and other athletic games prefer a type of shoe that laces well down tothe toe, since this permits better adjustment of the shoe to the foot and provides a closertting shoe that affords better support. The greatest objection to this type of shoe is that it normally introduces one or more seams in the toe or fore part of the shoe which may cause discomfort and produce blisters upon the foot.

Various constructions have been proposed heretofore to provide a shoe that laces well down to the toe and at the same time form the seam or seams in the toe area so that it will not chafe the foot, but these prior constructions have not entirely overcome the diiculty caused by a seam in this area,

The present invention relates to what is commonly known as the lace-to-toe type of shoe, and contemplates a novel construction that avoids the necessity of providing seams in the toe portion'of the shoe where they are likely to cause discomfort or blister .the foot.

A primary feature of the present invention resides in what is herein called an over-lay having the shoe tongue formed integral therewith, and which over-lay is adapted to cover at least part of the vamp at the outside of the shoe, and be secured in place without the formation of the above-mentioned objectionable seam at the inside of the shoe.

This over-lay construction has a further iinportant advantage in that by extending it back along each side of the shoe along the toes, a reinforcement is provided for that portion of the shoe which receives the most severe wear. Furthermore by providing this over-lay at the fore part of the shoe with the tongue integral therewith, the shoe is given a novel and pleasing appearance.

In carrying out the present invention it is desirable to form the vamp and two quarters of one integral piece of fabric and thereby avoid the use of seams to join the vamp and quarters. Such seams would disturb the smooth interior construction of the shoe, which is an important feature of the present invention,

The above and other features of the present invention will be further understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating one good practical embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig, lis a top plan view of va shoe embodying the vfeatures of the present invention. I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tnside of the complete Aupper for the shoe of Fig. 1.

Fig. -3 isa plan view of 'the cut-outintegral vamp and quarter piece forming the outer material for the-shoe upper `of Fig. 1 and having the lining secured thereto.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the over-lay and integral tongue forming important parts of the present invention; and y' Fig, 5 is a plan view of an eyelet stay of usual construction. f

The invention is described and illustrated herein in reference to a canvas shoe of the type commonly known as a lace-to-toe construction and is applicable either to high or low shoes of the lace type The shoe shown in Fig. 1 is a low canvas shoe the sole IIJ of which may be ofthe usual or any preferred construction, and the upper of the shoe is formed largely of the integrally-cut outer fabric material I I of Fig. 3, comprising the quarters i2 and I3 and vamp or forepart I4. The material I I it will be noted -is provided with a deep slot I5 which is closed at its lower end in the toe area of the shoe as indicated by I 6, The shoe upper, as will be apparent from Fig. 2, is provided throughout with a lining I'I which preferably constitutes one integral piece of fabric the shape of which is practically the same as that of the outer fabric II shown in Fig. 3. The lining I'I and outer fabric II are preferably adhesively secured together.

The quarters I2 and I3 are secured together i at the rear of the shoe by the vertical seam I8, and the rear portion of the shoe upper is provided with the usual counter I9. An eyelet stay 20 is secured as usual to each side of the slot I5 to receive the eyelets 2| adapted to receive the i shoe lacing. The upper edge of the shoe and the edges of the slot I5 are preferably provided with the usual binding 22 as shown to give these parts a finished edge.

The shoe construction so far designated by reference characters is, for the most part, of well known construction except for the formation of the end portion I6 of the slot I5, which end portion it will be noted is of increased width, for a purpose to be described.

In accordance with the present invention the upper shown in Fig. 2 has secured to the outer face of the fore portion thereof the over-lay of Fig. 4 comprising the front portion 23, side portions 24 and 25 and tongue 26 all integrally con- The upper shown in Fig. 2 may be attached to the sole l0 in the usual manner, and is pro" vided with the usual foxing 21.

the tongue are preferably provided with the binding 28, and the portion of the over-lay provided with the binding 28 is sewed to the outer fabric Il of the shoe upper as at 29. The outer edge portion of the over-lay is substantially co-extensive with the front portion of the shoe upper and is secured-to the sole with the edge of the shoe upper which it overlies.

The construction of the over-lay of Fig. 4 is 'such that it covers and conceals the lowerclosed end portion I6 of the slot I5, and the tongue 26 extends inwardlyl through the wide portion of the slot formed adjacent its end I6 to lie under the rows of eyelets 2| as shown in Fig. 1.

f, Itwill be Aapparent from the foregoing that a shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention is practically free from joining seams which would be likely to irritate or chafe the foot, even when the shoe is laced tightly upon `thefoot to increase the snugness of its fit. It -willalso be seen that by providing the over-lay herein described a reinforcement is provided for those portions of the shoe upper which receive the most severe wear, and it will be apparent that!` the shoe is given a novel and pleasing apand two quarters, said upper having a. deep central foot-receiving slot that extends into and terminates in the toe area of the shoe, such closed end of said slot being enlarged and provided with a curved edge merging into the sides of said slot and free from sharp turns, and an over-lay forming a cover for at least part of the vamp at the outside of the shoe and having an integral tongue that passes inwardly through said enlarged end of said slot.

Y 2. In a canvas lace shoe, a sole, an upper secured thereto and comprising a one-piece vamp f and quarters adapted to provide a smooth in- The tongue 26 of the shoe and the edges of the. portions 24 and 25 of the over-lay lying near ner surface, said upper having a front, central A' foot-receiving slot having edges adapted to be drawn towards each other with a shoe lace, said slot terminating in the toe area of the shoe, such closed end of said slot being enlarged and provided with a curved edge merging into the sides of said slot and free from sharp turns, the ,edges of nsaid slot being covered with binding tape which-extends along said curved end edge to reinforce same, and an over-lay forming a cover for at least part of the vamp at the outside of the shoe and having an integral tongue adapted to be extended through said enlarged end of said slot from the outside of the shoe to the inside.

3. In a canvas lace-to-toe type of shoe, a sole, an upper secured thereto and comprising a vamp and two quarters, said upper having a deep footreceiving slot that extends into the toe area of the shoe land is closed at its lower end, said slot being bound with tape and enlarged at its closed end by the removal of material, said closed end of said slot having a curved edge merging into the sides of said slot and free from sharp turns throughout which facilitates the application of said binding tape to said edge, an

ever-lay provided with an integralV tongue and of said slot.

` WILLIAM F1 CAIRNS. 

